One person was taken to hospital in critical condition after a serious crash closed down Highway 1 in both directions around 5 a.m. Monday morning, according to BC Emergency Health Services.
Highway 1 eastbound at 264th Street still remains closed due to a jackknifed semi wedged under the overpass.
REMINDER – #BCHwy1 CLOSED EB at 264 St due to vehicle incident. Use alternate routes. Expect delays. #Abbotsford #LangleyBC #Aldergrove https://t.co/sHZHKD10Ia
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) January 13, 2020
The westbound lanes were reopened around 6 a.m.
Drivers were asked to avoid the area and expect major delays.
There have been numerous crashes and cars sliding off roads around Langley during the morning commute, said the Township’s deputy fire chief Bruce Ferguson.
He advised drivers “stay off the street unless they absolutely need to be out there,” due to icy conditions.
There have been a number of incidents on Highway 1, including trucks having trouble making it up the slope eastbound near 248th Street, and a tree that fell across a travel lane at 8 a.m.
In addition to the semi that jackknifed, there was a rollover also near 264th Street on the highway.
There was also a two-vehicle collision near 200th Street and 64th Avenue in the morning.
An earlier vehicle incident west of 264th Street that had the left lane blocked is now clear.
Other than the crash involving the semi, there weren’t critical injuries in any of the crashes as of 9 a.m., Ferguson noted.
There were far fewer crashes in Langley City, reported City fire chief Rory Thompson.
“Pretty quiet for us,” said Thompson, aside from a few fender benders as of mid-day Monday.
Langley Township, with its much greater land area, more hills, and a huge road network, has a bigger challenge controlling snow and ice than the City.
The Township has 970 km of centre-line roads, said roads operations manager Brian Edey.
“We’re holding our own,” Edey said Monday. “We’ve basically been out around the clock since Saturday night.”
Of the 970 km of main roads in the Township, about 300 km are considered “first priority” for plowing and salting. They include major thoroughfares such as Fraser Highway, 200th Street, and other key roads.
There are another 200 km of second-priority roads that can be dealt with after the first priority roads are clear.
“There’s no way we have enough equipment or time to every road in the Township,” Edey noted.
READ MORE: MAP: Is your road a priority when it comes to clearing snow in Langley?
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